WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

15 FEBRUARY, MONDAY, CONTINUED

None of my betas looked like they wanted to say anything but I could tell they were thinking things in their beta heads, and if I didn't pry, those things they thought might end up never seeing the light of day.

Dad liked to say that sometimes asking the right questions was better than giving the right answers. 

That would be helpful advice if it included a list of "right questions" to ask. Unfortunately, it was just one deep zen statement that I'll never quite see the bottom of. Dad could be really frustrating that way. 

We just sat around wrapped up in personal thoughts for a while. I double checked to make sure the guys weren't mindlinking without me, but no... they were all just thinking.

When I asked "What do you guys think?", I was kind of expecting a one to three line answer... maybe a full paragraph from Harvey because he liked to go into the details. Maybe something like, "I think we should... or we could..." But of course Beta brains didn't work that way. They were thinking in essays - maybe even full thesis'. Hahaha. 

Finally, my Luna spoke.

"I don't like his face." Bell said darkly. He didn't elaborate. 

Which proved that he was 100% alpha. One line. That's it. 

I thought about my last encounter with Alpha Solomon at my Grandpa Silas' funeral. He was okay, and he seemed friendly, in an old fashion alpha way... I rather liked him. Oh, what did I know?

"What do we know about Alpha Solomon?" I asked. 

And ding ding ding! I got the right question this time! Hooray for me!

Now I'm rewarded with an essay answer. 

"Alpha Solomon is the current Alpha of the Black Forest Pack of the Black Packlands which had marked history with the first united colored packlands, their many wars against the vampire kind, and their anti-slavery stand." Ki began with the introductions, and of course Ki's introductions were always served with tea, "He is the third and longest serving Alpha of Black Forest since their unity."

Alpha Aaron was the first. He was known as the King of Peace. Which was ironic since he pretty much began the war within his packlands to gain control of it and then eradicated the entire black packlands of vampires. It was a bloodbath, but he was said to have freed his brethren trapped in the Covens for good.

Alpha Boden was the second. His rule was short-lived. Not much was known about him except that during this time, the Black Forest Pack fell into dark times and vampires re-emerged. He had three wives. Three! At the same time! But no soulmate.

Now that's not something any of my history book mentioned.

Alpha Solomon was also known as the Paladin of Justice (I thought he was the Coven Destroyer?) He was the second son from one of the major packs absorbed by Black Forest peacefully. 

He was an elite warrior in his youth, and later on after the death of his brother, challenged Alpha Boden and killed him. Officially, Alpha Solomon had challenged his predecessor over several matters of injustice. There was a rumor that one of these injustices was the cause of his brother's death.

Alpha Solomon was not the most popular Alpha living in Black Forest but he was the strongest fighter. There were 12 major alphas families and 6 minor alpha families from the combined packs. Now that's a lot of Alphas in a single pack. They represented the 18 original packs that once existed in the Black Packlands. All the major alpha families had a seat at the round table and would have a turn to rule. The scepter would be handed around the ruling table in a clockwise direction.

Any one of these alphas may challenge the Alpha for the ruling position, or else wait for their family's turn to ascend. Alpha Solomon's seat was at the 3 o'clock position. Currently the only Alpha who had a chance to challenge him AND win would be a young alpha at 4 o'clock, but it looked like the young alpha was just going to wait his turn. He was a promising young wolf, not even mated. Time was on his side.

Certainly Alpha Solomon gave him no reason to challenge him, in fact, Alpha Solomon would often refer to 4 o'çlock as his protege. Alpha Solomon was a wise leader in that he was always careful to keep his 4 o'clock happy and the rest of the alpha families at his round table nice and fat. Certainly, old fat wolves were unlikely to ever challenge his position directly.

Alpha Solomon officially had no mate, but he did have a human wife. A woman by the name of Susan. They had no pups. This was due to Alpha Solomon's very complex and traditional family. Politics did that to a family. Anyway, the Black Forest pack did not allow humans on their lands on a long term basis. Mating a human was unthinkable. Susan lived a quiet life in a human town under the rule of the Snow Moon pack in the Blue Packlands. 

The Snow Moon Pack was Alpha Gunter's pack and the leading pack on the blue packlands. Alpha Gunter was probably Alpha Solomon's only friend - or at least the only friend that Alpha Solomon publicly acknowledges. They met at Black Forest University as young wolves and grew up together since. 

"Alpha Gunter, as in the snow wolf that is River's dad?" I asked.

"I don't like his face." Mate said.

"Who's? Alpha Gunter or River?" I asked.

"Both." Mate decided.

Okay. Forget I asked.

Anyway, we were talking about Alpha Solomon right? 

"Oh yes, there is this other thing I know." I remembered quite suddenly, "Alpha Solomon had a secret suite under his packhouse that no one else knew about right?"

"Right." Ki confirmed, beaming like a flower. 

"That's not entirely unexpected." Ben said. And I remembered that Beta Lucas alone probably had 10 secret underground bunkers/tunnels/ or whatever. 

"This one was connected to a stable." Ki decided to elaborate.

I nodded, "What kind of wolves would ride horses?"

It just wasn't natural.

"Blue packland wolves." Harvey answered, "Alpha Gunter himself is an avid equestrian."

Eque-what now?

"Horse rider." Ben said.

Show off. 

Oh, right. I remembered that fun fact from Lycan Study Group when we were learning about the different cultures on the different packlands. Blue Packland wolves rode horses and horse drawn carriages - mainly because it was still the main form of transportation within the Blue Packlands.

Usually horses didn't take well to wolves, so I'm not sure how they managed it. But wait, what were we talking about again?

"Alpha Kingsley seems to believe an alliance with Black Forest would be beneficial for us." Ki decided to point out. 

"Are they selling us the junk they demonstrated?" Bell asked.

"Yes." Harvey nodded, "It's pricey though, Luna. I can forward you the price list."

"Why are you calling it junk?" I asked.

"Princess, do you believe they are sharing their latest tech with us?" Bell asked.

I wanted to nod, but I caught myself. I mean, I did... until Mate had to ask me in such a way. 

"Or that they only use this tech for vampire slaying purposes?" Bell asked again.

Grrrr... I'm not a pup! 

Bell's attention had turned to his phone, presumably to check out the price list. He growled a little, "Is Night Leaf going to buy anything?"

"Very probably." Harvey said, "It's been tabulated into their next Leadership Meeting for discussion."

All the guys started thinking again, and you and I know that thinking wasn't exactly my forte.

"Alright!" I stood up. The other guys immediately stood up too.

"You guys can do what you want, but I'm going to bed." I announced. I mean, I have another long school day in front of me. 

Mate nodded, "Goodnight."

Awwww,,, when Mate said goodnight with his deep voice like that, my insides got all fuzzy.

"Thank you for your guidance." My betas bowed.

Its not like I gave them any, but whatever. Good betas.

Ki opened the bedroom door of me, and helped me switch on the lights for the bathroom and turn down the bed. As he prepared my room, he had left the door open and I could hear the discussion outside continue. 

Mainly it was my Luna, "Let's just pretend we really want the junk for now. Ben, see how low you can push down the price. Buy them out."

"Sure, but what are you planning to do with that much junk?" Ben asked.

Unlike me, Mate was the kind of alpha who actually had a plan, "I'm going to repackage the junk and sell it for a large profit, and then rub it in Solomon's face."

So much potential my mate! It seemed such a waste that he would squander it on such pettiness. 

"Is there anything else I may do for you, goddess?" Ki asked at the door.

I shook my head, ""Thanks Ki. Goodnight."

Ki smiled like a flower opening to the sun, and made a dignified bow, "Goodnight, goddess."

And I was alone. I looked at the shut door for a moment. I could hear the guys still discussing outside. I'm sure it was all blah blah blah, or worse, "What do you want to do, Sam?"

I DON'T KNOW! Do I look like the goddess to you?

I'm the alpha! (That isn't very good at planning.)

I mean, I came into the bathroom meaning to take a quick shower, but now I'm soaking in the bath. I think I got stressed out about needing to have a plan.

Grrrr....

I'm the Alpha because I had an Alpha wolf. Not because I had a plan. Did Alpha Blades have a plan when he decided to help the free wolf village? Did Alpha Aaron have a plan when he decided that something must be done to end Lycan slavery in the Black Packlands for good?  Did my Alpha Dad have a plan when he left Night Forest to start a pack out here in the Green Packlands?

No! Well, maybe, eventually. But it all started with a dream.

And I had one of those!

I'm going to protect the happiness of everyone.

Oh, and rescue lycan slaves the goddess puts my way, and give them a pack to run in again. And build a pack where no one would ever have to run alone, and everyone will have a home to build and grow their families in.

It would be a safe place for wolves. No rogues, or hunters, or vampires. No infighting among the packs.

And there would be lots of things that would make pack wolves happy. Like trees and woodlands to run and hunt, and shops and roads and fun things like parties and live performances and concerts or something. And schools and parks and pools for the pups, and flowers and libraries...oh, and an amusement park! How's that for a dream?

I flopped on my golden clamshell bed and reached one hand towards the ceiling. But the road to that dream, was the plan.

I was the Alpha. So it's my job to lead the way. But leading the way wasn't like running through the woods and letting my lucky sense of direction lead me... Running around randomly wasn't going to build the Princess Town. 

So far we got where we are by pure luck. Good old fashion luck. Everything just happened to work out. But how far could that go?

Could luck pay for the amusement park? Or at least a live concert in our Packlands?

The Green Packlands were so far away from everything that we don't get the cool concerts. My friends were always complaining about having to go out to the Gold or Red Packlands to catch their favourite bands.

We did have a Concert Hall in Gate City, but it ended up being home to our part time orchestra. Sometimes, the Lorents would rent it for their private recitals, because they liked the grandness of the building.

My Alpha Inauguration was going to be held there. But wouldn't it be cool if it could be the venue for actual performances?

Oh, but I'm distracted again... Right... A plan. Boo, you got anything?

Unfortunately, I fell asleep so if Boo had answered, I hadn't heard it.